Obituary for Mrs. Marie D'Ambrosio Libassi

Obituary

Marie (D'Ambrosio) Libassi, age 98, of Murray, Kentucky, died on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. She was born on October 26, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents Lena (Natoli) D'Ambrosio and Eugene D'Ambrosio had immigrated from Italy earlier. She graduated from high school in 1938, at a time when "only Anglo-Saxons need apply " was commonly seen on job postings. However, upon graduation, Marie secured a job as a legal secretary for a Wall Street attorney for $12 a week.

In 1940 she met her future husband Theodore "Ted" Libassi at the Clinton Dance Hall. They were engaged in 1941 prior to his conscription in the army and assignment to Scott Airforce Base. They married in 1942 and Marie joined Ted in St Louis where she worked for the War Production Board. When Ted was deployed overseas, Marie returned home to her family in New York, again working as a legal secretary. After the war Ted returned to New York City to be with Marie. He worked for the city of New York until 1966 when he was forced to retire for health reasons. During this time their daughter Laura was born. Since Italian traditions were a paramount concern Sundays, holidays and summer weekends were spent with extended family. The summer bungalow in San Remo, Long Island was a favorite gathering place. These gatherings focused on food, spirited card games, bocce and whose homemade wine was better!

In 1966 the family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to be with Marie's brother Gene and other family members. Within a short time, Marie was again a legal secretary and in 1972 accepted a position as the executive secretary for the Federal Southern District Judge, Norman Roettger. She remained is his employ until retiring in 1984. Shortly thereafter, she and Ted moved to Murray, Kentucky to be closer to their only child Laura and reap the benefits of being proud grandparents. However, after a few years the matriarch of Ted's family became ill, necessitating their move back to Florida.

In 1994, a few years after Ted's death, Marie moved back to Murray. For a time, she enjoyed being a dorm mother at Murray State, working at Merle Norman cosmetics and volunteering at the hospital. She also continued with her worldly travels. For her 90th birthday she decided it was time to go back to Las Vegas; this time with her daughter Laura and granddaughter Lauren. This was not for gambling (her daily allotment was $1 on the penny slots), but to see Cher in concert!

In 2014 Marie made Hickory Woods Assisted Living her home. There she was a regular at the 3pm card game. As Marie neared the end of her journey she transitioned to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House or as she fondly called it "The Hospice Hilton". Even there she remained fiercely independent where her inquisitive nature, zest for life, interest in current events, card playing, and TV court cases remained. Particularly, she was a devotee of Suze Orman and frequently shared her financial principles with her granddaughters. This always provoked smiles and laughter as well as groans!

Although there will be no visitation, a memorial service will be held at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Murray,Kentucky at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, 2018. A private internment of her cremains will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071 or to WKMS (public radio affiliate, Murray, KY) 2018 University Station, Murray, Kentucky 42071.